It can be worse, much worse, than packratting paper in respect to numbers. Collecting free information (stuff) and ebooks, pdfs, photos, clipart and info-data from online and your own braindroppings . . . it can all become a blur of e-clutter and overwhelming. If the amount of data in our computers was recreated in paper form, we’d have to move out of our offices several times over!
Right up there with “I wish my house would burn down so I don’t have to deal with it,” is “I wish my computer would just crash so I don’t have to figure out what to do with it all!”
The reality is, you’ll never see, use or need over 80% of the paper you have. This is just as true for digital data files and folders, i.e., you can only utilize and look at so much information that you collect in one lifetime!
So, it’s time. It’s time to take control of e-clutter, simplify and get organized. Here’s what to do:
1. Plan and Purge.
30 - 45 minutes a day is a good starting point. Schedule uninterrupted time to do this and stick to it. It will feel great when you’re done. You’ll feel lighter and relieved!
2. Change habits for more open space and a simple digital life.
To keep your computer lighter in the long run, free of e-clutter and e-junk, you’ll have to stay vigilant to collecting and saving as… again.
Just as with material items you need to ask yourself:
- Will I ever use, look at or read this again? (Or, for the first time!!)
- If so, how and when?
- Can I find this online again or somewhere else and not keep it on my computer?
- If my computer crashed and it was gone forever, would I even remember it and miss it? If so, why?
This is about being more conscious and awake to your gathering and collecting information. Use your delete key more often!
3. Develop purging routines.
Maintaining a clutter-free life means developing new routines and habits, which means planning in regular e-house cleaning of your digital files.
- Target one folder at a time. Some folders can have many sub-folders, so one at a time can be a big job. To keep from overwhelm, set aside some time each day for mini-purges.
- Really focus in and choose only the important stuff, and delete/trash the rest.
- Sort out the important files and put them in a separate, temporary folder. After you’ve deleted all the non-essential files put the essential ones back where they belong and delete the temporary folder.
4. Put purging reminders on your calendar for new jobs and maintenance.
Thank you, Leo Babauta for some great ideas.
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